Do the fans truly have a say?

Imagine a cool Sunday morning as you and you kids wake and begin to prepare for the day, you are pumped and ready because today is game day. Today is the day when your favorite NFL team is ready to do battle against their rival. For me, my boys Justus, Ezekiel and Malachi have their own jerseys of our favorite team and we have this ritual every Sunday. We prepare to sit in front of our television (and of course they don’t watch the game) and root on our favorite players, eat our snacks, and either have overwhelming excitement or incredible disappointment but believe it or not it is amazing. Could you imagine not having that Sunday feeling? Unfortunately it is a real possibility with the lack of agreement on both sides of the NFL labor talks. My question is everyone has talked about what players want and what owners want but what about what the fans want? There is no way for me to replace that feeling I have on Sunday mornings when I wake and prepare my boys for a day of NFL football. It has become a family tradition and one that is very special to me and my family as not only do I watch the game with my boys but I watch with my mother and father-in-law, Bill and Lynne Barger and my brother Josh Barger. I want to know do we have a say. Do we get to decide if they will play the NFL season or if we can go on strike and request cheaper tickets, or better seating, etc…? Of course not, why because I, just like you, love the game. If we are willing to pay ridiculous prices for seats, concessions and programs why are these guys upset about money? Listen I am all about getting better health care for these players who lay it on the field every week and I am not sure about an 18-game season with concussions on the rise and other such injuries but the fact is everyone will suffer if a deal is not reached.

I think about the rookies that will not see the field to fulfill a dream, I think about the father’s and son’s that will miss out on those special moments, I think about those owners and front office people with empty desk and offices, I think about those veterans that aren’t getting any younger, we all will suffer.

I remember the days when baseball had a looming lockout and the discussion, as most talks are, was over the money. I also remember in those days when I loved the game of baseball and when the lockout became a reality it really left a sour taste in my mouth and the love of the game became a like of the game. I still love to play baseball, but it didn’t sit well with me and many fans, and baseball, in turn, lost many fans. My fear is that football has really stepped up and become the forerunner in America as the top sport, whether you agree or disagree, the fact is that in one potentially missed season it could be thrown away. I hope everyone in management, the front office, and on the field understands that if this happens and the season is missed fans will be lost and a bitter taste will be left in the mouth of those who once loved this amazing game.

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By Sam Adams
Pro Football Fans Staff Writer